Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hi everyone. I'm Uzra Zeya, the acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human
Rights and Labor at the U.S. Department of State. I'm here today to talk with you about
the work the State Department is doing to achieve ratification of the Disabilities Treaty.
U.S. ratification of the Treaty will help us bring our common high standards as embodied
in the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, to people with disabilities throughout
the world who face numerous barriers in their own societies.
I know that today, some countries don't have laws that protect or promote the rights of
people with disabilities. And many countries that do have such laws either don't provide
comprehensive protection, or don't have the capacity to fully implement their laws. As
a result, disabled people face discrimination that significantly limits their opportunities
to contribute to society. Inaccessible public buildings, schools, transportation, workplaces,
and businesses are effectively closed to people with disabilities.
Polling places are also inaccessible for many people with disabilities around the world.
The lack of ramps, Braille ballots or signs, and professional training for poll workers
are just a few examples of ways that people with disabilities are unable to vote in many
countries. Unable to have their say on Election Day. Unable to directly exert influence by
choosing representatives who would advocate for their rights. When people with disabilities
are left out of the polling booths, they are often also left out of the larger democratic
process. Additionally, job discrimination and unemployment
remain serious problems for people with disabilities. Employment for disabled people around the
world is critical to the economy, but many live in extreme poverty because they cannot
obtain a job as a result of societal or structural barriers. Effectively, millions of capable
individuals who have disabilities are unable to contribute to their societies, weakening
local and national economies. In some nations, people with disabilities
face deep, societal discrimination that manifests itself in inadequate medical care, the inability
to get an education, and abandonment by government and other institutions. People with disabilities
are often vulnerable to *** and other forms of abuse. In some countries, children with
disabilities are chained to trees and beaten -- or killed -- because they have a disability.
In some cultures there is a belief that people with disabilities are afflicted by demons
that must be exorcised, a belief that leads to torture, including deprivation of food,
water, and shelter. Marginalized. Stigmatized. Institutionalized.
Forgotten. These themes are too often repeated around the world.
We're fortunate to live in a country in which the ADA and other ground-breaking legislation
protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities. The Disabilities Treaty embodies
the principles and values underlying these laws, including nondiscrimination, equal opportunity,
independence, accessibility, human dignity, and full and effective participation and inclusion
in society. Ratifying the Treaty would put us in the best position to export these principles
and values to the rest of the world, so that we can help to ensure that people with disabilities
overseas enjoy the same rights and freedoms that they enjoy in the United States.
Why is this good for us? Why does it matter? To put it simply, Americans with disabilities
wanting to work, study, serve, or travel abroad deserve to take full advantage of their overseas
experiences on an equal basis with others. Additionally, we live in an increasingly interconnected
world where knowledge of languages, customs, and other cultures is often the key to competitiveness
in the global workforce. To maintain our competitive edge in the international workforce, all Americans
should be allowed full access to international job opportunities without discrimination on
the basis of disability. That's why we're working hard for Senate ratification
of the Disabilities Treaty. Ratification doesn't add a penny to our budget. It doesn't require
any changes to U.S. domestic law. But it will expand opportunities for millions of disabled
Americans, reaffirm America's leadership in the area of disabilities, and create new markets
for American businesses. Ratification of the Treaty will reinforce what we believe in as
Americans, including our refusal to tolerate discrimination and injustice toward people
with disabilities here and abroad. The rights of people with disabilities are
human rights. As Americans, we will fight for the rights of people with disabilities
everywhere, so they're included, protected, respected and active participants in their
societies. Thank you for time and attention. For more
information about the Disabilities Treaty, please visit www.state.gov/disabilitiestreaty.
And for more information about the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, please
visit our website. Thank you.